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News
More History on Longmont Fiber Ring in Colorado
The Longmont Times-Call continues its coverage of the community network struggles of a Colorado community.
New Hampshire - Fast Roads Open Access Network
Folks in New Hampshire are fed up with the private carriers ignoring them and have started an initiative to build their own fiber-optic open access network. Looks like the site is pretty new, so check back for details.
Stimulus - Private Companies Won
Last summer, I predicted the NTIA's rules for the broadband stimulus would disadvantage the public sector and tilt the playing field toward the private sector.
Thoughts on the Google Fiber Initiative
Readers undoubtedly know that Google has proposed a limited fiber-to-the-home open access network rollout that will offer gigabit speeds.
The Economist Profiles Bristol Virginia Utilites Network
In a recent issue, the Economist profiled BVU - the first municipally-owned triple-play fiber-to-the-home network in the U.S. Evidently, the Economist thinks Bristol an unlikely spot to find a full fiber-to-the-home network, but some of the best networks in the U.S.
Lafayette Fiber Network Ahead of Schedule
Good news out of Louisiana - the LUS Fiber deployment in Lafayette is running considerably ahead of schedule.
WindomNet to Expand with RUS Grant
Finally, a broadband stimulus project that we can get excited about. RUS has announced a grant to expand the publicly owned WindomNet in southwestern Minnesota. Windom was originally built to bring broadband to a small community that Qwest didn't think ready for DSL.
Telephony Podcast Interviews Jackson Energy Authority
Carol Wilson speaks with Jackson's Michael Johnston about JEA's triple-play network in Tennessee. As far as I can tell, this interview took place in September, 2009. Johnston reports that the publicly owned network passes 30,000 residences and about 5,000 businesses.
Wired Road Plans Expansion, Adds Service Provider
The Wired Road, a community-owned open access network in rural Virginia, has added an additional wired service provider and announced expansion plans. This is a network in Grayson and Carroll counties as well as the city of Galax. Services on the Wired Road are provided exclusively by independent service providers, not the network owners.
New Hampshire Bill Would Allow Communities to Build Networks
The Design Nine blog alerted me to a bill in New Hampshire that would modify state law to allow communities to build publicly owned networks. It appears they may currently invest in a network in unserved areas -- though few places are entirely unserved.
Chaska.Net Profiled in Local Paper
I've often wondered what it would look like if a reporter wrote about a Wi-Fi network without any ideological baggage to slam it. Now you can see - Mollee Francisco wrote a lengthy and fair article for a local paper in Chaska, a suburb of Minneapolis.
Folks in Maine Resent FairPoint's Lobbying Against Broadband Awards
As Karl Bode recently asked, "Should Fairpoint Really Be Giving Broadband Advice?" They have been lobbying against other stimulus projects in Maine that could allow FairPoint subscribers to actually get service that works and puts communities first.
Given FairPoint's horrendous track record in New England since taking over Verizon's run-dow
Christopher Mitchell Interview on FreeUTOPIA Podcast
I was the guest on Jesse Harris' February Podcast about the UTOPIA network in Utah.
Comcast, NBC Merger Bad for Community Networks
I am not going to spend a lot of time on this, because if it isn't in the proverbial weeds for the focus of this site, it is pretty close. But the merger between Comcast and NBC would be bad news for publicly owned networks.
Comcast is already a massive company that has huge advantages due to its scale.